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Callie S

How Technology Has Changed Our Lives in the Last Five Years - The Center of Technology - 0 views

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    "Over the last five years, technology has been rapidly changing and expanding in every field imaginable. Smart phones are now capable of acting as standalone computer devices that can take pictures, search the Internet, send emails and text messages and yes, they even make phone calls. While it might seem that the technology of today has reached its limits, it is still actually spreading its proverbial wings. Only twenty or so years ago, personal computers were becoming small enough and affordable enough for families to buy them for home use. Since then, the world of technology has shown no signs of slowing down and practically every device available today is somehow tied to computer technology. It seems hard these days to fathom the original size of computers and how small they have become in the last ten years, but within the last five years they have become even smaller and somehow more powerful and faster than ever before! The Internet allows people to connect with family, friends, and work colleagues from across the globe in the push of a button. Communication options have literally exploded in the instant avenues of text and video based chat as well as the near instantaneous method of email. Gone are the days where one had to post a letter and wait a week or more for a response and long distance phone calls are unnecessary for anyone with a computer, a webcam, and a speedy Internet connection. Automobiles are now being manufactured with standard GPS and emergency call features for the convenience and safety of drivers and their passengers, making the days of carrying a map completely unnecessary and improving the peace of mind of anyone who must travel the roads alone or at night. Computerized cars are now potentially at risk in much the same fashion as a personal computer as a moderately skilled hacker can theoretically take over basic functions of a vehicle - including its engine. Yes, technological advancement has changed our lives completely, and not al
William C

Nanotechnology Delivers Microcoatings | EMDT - European Medical Device Technology - 0 views

  • In the field of medical device development there are a number of factors generally recognised as being important for success. Among these are the biocompatibility, sterility, reliability and adaptability of materials to their surroundings. Without a suitable approach to these issues, the majority of medical devices will not be as successful as they could be. Biocompatibility of materials, in particular, is a critical factor in the development and application of permanent and temporary implants and other devices such as catheters and tubes that are to be used in and around the body. Coating technology is the obvious and ideal solution for separating the bulk properties of a material or device from direct interaction with its surroundings. The independent modification of surface and bulk properties widens the range of features that can be incorporated into products. Bulk properties are responsible for characteristics such as mechanical strength. A suitable coating will enhance the interaction of the device with its surroundings. For example, it will provide drug-elusion (stents), anti-fouling and antibacterial properties, and a hydrophobic self-cleaning surface, referred to as lotus coating.1 The lotus effect in material science is the observed self-cleaning property found with lotus plants. A coating with this effect will make surfaces self-cleaning and will decrease the need for active cleaning of the subsequent surface; it may even enhance the sterility of surfaces. Recently there have been some interesting developments in materials and coatings based on organic and inorganic components, which are responsible for current state-of-the-art devices. Examples include coatings for stents that provide multiple therapeutic effects in thinner layers and coatings with better adhesion to device surfaces. The future holds the promise of even greater functionality for medical coatings.
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    "In the field of medical device development there are a number of factors generally recognised as being important for success. Among these are the biocompatibility, sterility, reliability and adaptability of materials to their surroundings. Without a suitable approach to these issues, the majority of medical devices will not be as successful as they could be. Biocompatibility of materials, in particular, is a critical factor in the development and application of permanent and temporary implants and other devices such as catheters and tubes that are to be used in and around the body. Coating technology is the obvious and ideal solution for separating the bulk properties of a material or device from direct interaction with its surroundings. The independent modification of surface and bulk properties widens the range of features that can be incorporated into products. Bulk properties are responsible for characteristics such as mechanical strength. A suitable coating will enhance the interaction of the device with its surroundings. For example, it will provide drug-elusion (stents), anti-fouling and antibacterial properties, and a hydrophobic self-cleaning surface, referred to as lotus coating.1 The lotus effect in material science is the observed self-cleaning property found with lotus plants. A coating with this effect will make surfaces self-cleaning and will decrease the need for active cleaning of the subsequent surface; it may even enhance the sterility of surfaces. Recently there have been some interesting developments in materials and coatings based on organic and inorganic components, which are responsible for current state-of-the-art devices. Examples include coatings for stents that provide multiple therapeutic effects in thinner layers and coatings with better adhesion to device surfaces. The future holds the promise of even greater functionality for medical coatings."
Micah K

HowStuffWorks "How Nanotechnology Works" - 0 views

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    A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. this means that when nanomites they will be so small that we wont even e able to see them through a microscope. "In order to understand the unusual world of nanotechnology, we need to get an idea of the units of measure involved. A centimeter is one-hundredth of a meter, a millimeter is one-thousandth of a meter, and a micrometer is one-millionth of a meter, but all of these are still huge compared to the nanoscale. A nanometer (nm) is one-billionth of a meter, smaller than the wavelength of visible light and a hundred-thousandth the width of a human hair"
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    "In order to understand the unusual world of nanotechnology, we need to get an idea of the units of measure involved. A centimeter is one-hundredth of a meter, a millimeter is one-thousandth of a meter, and a micrometer is one-millionth of a meter, but all of these are still huge compared to the nanoscale. A nanometer (nm) is one-billionth of a meter, smaller than the wavelength of visible light and a hundred-thousandth the width of a human hair [source: Berkeley Lab]. As small as a nanometer is, it's still large compared to the atomic scale. An atom has a diameter of about 0.1 nm. An atom's nucleus is much smaller -- about 0.00001 nm. Atoms are the building blocks for all matter in our universe. You and everything around you are made of atoms. Nature has perfected the science of manufacturing matter molecularly. For instance, our bodies are assembled in a specific manner from millions of living cells. Cells are nature's nanomachines. At the atomic scale, elements are at their most basic level. On the nanoscale, we can potentially put these atoms together to make almost anything" Nanotechnology is measured in a nanometer, which is one-billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology is extremely small, and can help create something from something not seen with human eye.
William B

Medical uses expand for human tissue from 3-D printers | The Portland Press Herald / Ma... - 0 views

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    "SAN FRANCISCO - 3-D printing, used to construct everything from art to toys to spare parts for the space station, may one day produce human organs at a hospital near you. click image to enlarge A 3-D printed prosthetic nose and ear are displayed at an industry show in London in November. The technology may eventually help reduce organ shortages. Bloomberg News photo by Chris Ratcliffe Select images available for purchase in the Maine Today Photo Store The 20-year-old technology uses liquid materials that become hard as they print out three-dimensional objects in layers, based on a digital model. Current medical uses are in dentistry, for hard-material crowns, caps and bridges, as well as prosthetics. Last year, a 3-D printer was used to create a structure from moldable polymer that replaced more than 75 percent of a patient's skull. Now, Organovo Holdings Inc. is using 3-D printers to create living tissue that may one day look and act like a human liver, able to cleanse the body of toxins. Drugmakers and cosmetic companies already plan to use 3-D printed human tissue to test new products. Eventually, the technology may help reduce organ shortages and cut transplant rejections as patients receive new organs constructed from their own cells. "3-D printing is like a new tool set," said Organovo Chief Executive Officer Keith Murphy. "You can make a living tissue you can grow outside the body. That's the core of our technology. How can you be smart about doing that?" Organovo already is preparing to sell strips of liver tissue to drugmakers this year to be used to test toxicity of potential treatments, Murphy said in a telephone interview. The San Diego-based company's five- and 10-year goals are first to use a patient's own cells to print tissue strips that can be used to patch failing organs, and finally to be able to create entire new organs. The first 3-D printer was produced in 1992. Since then, a variety of materials have been used as the t
Woody H

Electronic paper - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

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    "Electronic paper, e-paper and electronic ink are display technologies which are designed to mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper.[1] Unlike conventional backlit flat panel displays which emit light, electronic paper displays reflect light like ordinary paper, theoretically making it more comfortable to read, and giving the surface a wider viewing angle compared to conventional displays. The contrast ratio in available displays as of 2008 might be described as similar to that of newspaper, though newly developed displays are slightly better.[2] An ideal e-paper display can be read in direct sunlight without the image appearing to fade. Many electronic paper technologies can hold static text and images indefinitely without using electricity. Flexible electronic paper uses plastic substrates and plastic electronics for the display backplane. There is ongoing competition among manufacturers to provide full-color ability. Applications of electronic visual displays include electronic pricing labels in retail shops, and digital signage,[3] time tables at bus stations,[4] electronic billboards,[5] mobile phone displays, and e-readers able to display digital versions of books and e-paper magazines."
Luke Soko

The 100-Year Plan for Space Travel - 0 views

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    In this article you will find key information to begin the great researching stage of this project. While reading this website you learn that one of the main goals of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and NASA are to create an Interstellar Spaceship that would be able to travel to stars that are light years away. This project is what they will be focusing a majority of their research on and giving grants to separate organizations to help them carry out this goal. They are hoping to develop this spaceship in the next 100 years and are hoping to use futuristic technologies such as thermonuclear engines, or sending vehicles across the galaxy by bouncing laser beams off their sails to help create these spaceships. They are also offering to accept new ideas such as anti-gravity engines, and plasma shields. This website holds very useful information.
Kellie C

The History of the Integrated Circuit - 0 views

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    "Our world is full of integrated circuits. You find several of them in computers. For example, most people have probably heard about the microprocessor. The microprocessor is an integrated circuit that processes all information in the computer. It keeps track of what keys are pressed and if the mouse has been moved. It counts numbers and runs programs, games and the operating system. Integrated circuits are also found in almost every modern electrical device such as cars, television sets, CD players, cellular phones, etc. But what is an integrated circuit and what is the history behind it?"
William C

Nanorobotics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

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    nanotechnology is a branch off of nanotechnology. they are small machines that can be used for anything. "Nanorobotics is the emerging technology field creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the scale of a nanometer (10−9 meters).[1][2][3] More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building nanorobots, with devices ranging in size from 0.1-10 micrometers and constructed of nanoscale or molecular components.[4][5] The names nanobots, nanoids, nanites, nanomachines or nanomites have also been used to describe these devices currently under research and development"
Palmer C

Hydroelectric Energy Pros and Cons - Energy Informative - 0 views

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    " ENERGY INFORMATIVE THE HOMEOWNER`S GUIDE TO SOLAR PANELS GO SOLAR TOP 10 BENEFITS SOLAR BASICS How Solar Works Financing Compare Extra Resources COMPARE Solar Panels Mono-, Polycrystalline and Thin Film Micro-Inverters and Central Inverters Best Solar Leases ABOUT FREE SOLAR CONSULTATION Home / Hydroelectric Energy Pros and Cons Hydroelectric Energy Pros and Cons Last updated June 1, 2013 by Mathias Aarre Maehlum 31 Comments FACEBOOK60 TWITTER2 GOOGLE +1 20% of the world's electricity consumption in 2006 was generated with hydroelectricity (generating electricity from hydropower), the most used renewable energy source in the world. We all know that hydroelectricity is both renewable and green, but what are the other advantages this technology offer? Are there any disadvantages? Read the hydroelectric energy pros and cons list below to find out! This article is solely about the pros and cons of hydroelectricity. If you don't know how hydroelectricity works yet I suggest you first read through How Does Hydroelectric Power Work?   "
Palmer C

Wind Energy Pros - 0 views

  • Cons of Wind Energy Wind is highly variable. Wind speed varies by numerous factors, including weather, location and season, so not all places are appropriate for wind energy. At Inn Serendipity, we rarely overproduce electricity during the summer months. Equipment requires a sizeable upfront investment, depending on the size of system selected. To meet the needs of a modest hobby farm, like ours (after energy conservation and efficiency efforts have been exhausted), a 10 kW system that costs $40,000 to $70,000 would be needed to become a net producer of electricity on an annual basis. Evaluating projected wind-system output is difficult due to variability of turbine design and production conditions. “Wind turbines are not created equally,” Hippensteel says. “Some require considerably more maintenance and service than others.” Living with a renewable energy system demands a more energy-mindful way of living. After any big storm, we check our inverters in much the same way that our farmer neighbors check on their animals. State or municipal zoning laws may result in expensive hearings or possibly prevent you from erecting a tower of sufficient height. NIMBYism: Some neighbors may voice objections to the sight or sound of a swishing turbine. While possible harm may be done to birds, research studies, such as one by the National Wind Coordinating Committee, have found that collisions with windows in buildings and vehicles, capture by outdoor cats, as well as poisoning due to chemicals cause far more avian fatalities than encounters with residential wind systems. Depending on location, securing capable technicians or service workers for possible repair or maintenance can add significant costs to owning a system.
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    "Pros of Wind Energy Wind is renewable, freely available and tax-free. Farm businesses may even be eligible to receive a wind-production tax credit. No pollution or waste is generated by the system's operation. Depending on the wind turbine selected, the equipment can be low-maintenance. In general, the more complex the system and the moving parts, the more likely repairs or maintenance will be needed. (Note: After five years, our 10 kW Bergey's generator and inverter required no special repair.) A growing number of utility companies offer simple net metering contracts. (More than 40 states have net metering according to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.) Under net metering, a wind energy system owner would receive credit for at least a portion of the electricity they generate. There are numerous statewide wind-energy financial incentives, according to Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Numerous national manufacturers of wind turbines have proven reliability track records, including Bergey, Proven, Abundant Renewable Energy, Wind Turbine Industries Corp., and Southwest Windpower, according to John Hippensteel, and engineer with Lake Michigan Wind and Sun, Ltd. Land within the acre or two needed for a residential wind turbine can still be used for pasture, gardens or other agricultural purposes. In our experience-as as noted by the American Wind Energy Association, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and others-as of 2009, wind is the most cost-effective source of renewable energy, especially when compared to solar electric (photovoltaic) systems. Depending on the system and electricity rates, which continue to rise, your investment might break even in about 17 years."
Palmer C

Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy - 0 views

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    "Advantages of Solar Power? Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source. Once a solar panel is installed, solar energy can be produced free of charge. Solar energy will last forever whereas it is estimated that the world's oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years. Solar energy causes no pollution. Solar cells make absolutely no noise at all. On the other hand, the giant machines utilized for pumping oil are extremely noisy and therefore very impractical. Very little maintenance is needed to keep solar cells running. There are no moving parts in a solar cell which makes it impossible to really damage them. In the long term, there can be a high return on investment due to the amount of free energy a solar panel can produce, it is estimated that the average household will see 50% of their energy coming in from solar panels.   Disadvantages of Solar Power? Solar panels can be expensive to install resulting in a time-lag of many years for savings on energy bills to match initial investments. Electricity generation depends entirely on a countries exposure to sunlight; this could be limited by a countries climate. Solar power stations do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations; they can also be very expensive to build. Solar power is used to charge batteries so that solar powered devices can be used at night. The batteries can often be large and heavy, taking up space and needing to be replaced from time to time."
Lexie D

Human genome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

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    this is the the definition of the human genome. "The human genome is the complete set of genetic information for humans (Homo sapiens). This information is encoded as DNA sequences within the 23 chromosome pairs in cell nuclei and in a small DNA molecule found within individual mitochondria. Human genomes include both protein-coding DNA genes and noncoding DNA. Haploid human genomes (contained in egg and sperm cells) consist of three billion DNA base pairs, while diploid genomes (found in somatic cells) have twice the DNA content. While there are significant differences among the genomes of human individuals (on the order of 0.1%), these are considerably smaller than the differences between humans and their closest living relatives, the chimpanzees (approximately 4%[1]) and bonobos."
Savana R

Capitalism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 2 views

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    "Capitalism is an economic system in which trade, industry and the means of production are controlled by private owners with the goal of making profits in a market economy." The definition of Capitalism is- certain things that are owned by private owners.
William C

Nanotechnology and Medicine / Nanotechnology Medical Applications - 0 views

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    This page gave a good amount on how nanotechnology can change the future of medicine, from taking pills to cancer. It also talks about nerve regeneration and how that is in the near future with nanotechnology.
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    "Nanotechnology is already being used in products in its passive form, such as cosmetics and sunscreens,"
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    "Nanotechnology medical developments over the coming years will have a wide variety of uses and could potentially save a great number of lives. Nanotechnology is already moving from being used in passive structures to active structures, through more targeted drug therapies or "smart drugs." These new drug therapies have already been shown to cause fewer side effects and be more effective than traditional therapies. In the future, nanotechnology will also aid in the formation of molecular systems that may be strikingly similar to living systems. These molecular structures could be the basis for the regeneration or replacement of body parts that are currently lost to infection, accident, or disease. These predictions for the future have great significance not only in encouraging nanotechnology research and development but also in determining a means of oversight. The number of products approaching the FDA approval and review process is likely to grow as time moves forward and as new nanotechnology medical applications are developed."
Savana R

Wealth | Define Wealth at Dictionary.com - 0 views

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    "a great quantity or store of money, valuable possessions, property, or other riches: the wealth of a city. 2. an abundance or profusion of anything; plentiful amount: a wealth of imagery. 3. Economics . a. all things that have a monetary or exchange value. b. anything that has utility and is capable of being appropriated or exchanged. 4. rich or valuable contents or produce: the wealth of the soil. 5. the state of being rich; prosperity; affluence: persons of wealth and standing." These are some good definitions of "Wealth". There are 5 good definitions.
Taylor B

Researchers Work on Smart Drug Development Using Nanotechnology - 0 views

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    ""We are developing smart drugs that determine which are the cancer cells and which aren't, then selectively kill only the cancer cells."'
Micah K

What could be the Post Silicon Era? | Technologically Insane - 0 views

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    "The "nanowires" is another alternative of the post silicon era, but there are many issues such as connecting them to the rest of the transistor, improving the semiconductor property, and ensuring the nanotubes are sized and positioned correctly. " Nanowires might be one of the alternatives of replacing silicon.
William C

Nanoparticle - 0 views

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    "A nanoparticle (or nanopowder or nanocluster or nanocrystal) is a microscopic particle with at least one dimension less than 100 nm. Nanoparticle research is currently an area of intense scientific research, due to a wide variety of potential applications in biomedical, optical, and electronic fields. Nanoparticles are of great scientific interest as they are effectively a bridge between bulk materials and atomic or molecular structures. A bulk material should have constant physical properties"
William C

Comes the smart pill - 0 views

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    "Engineers at the University of Florida (USA) have created a housing that incorporates a tiny microchip and antenna and, after administration, warns that a patient has taken his medicine. According to Rizwan Bashirullah, creator of the invention, the smart pill could be very useful in patients who forget if you have taken medication, or just clueless and do not take it daily. The pill consists of a capsule containing a microchip and an antenna that is printed on its surface using non-toxic ink of silver nanoparticles . The antenna is biocompatible and dissolves almost 100%. When the pill is swallowed, the microchip is communicated to a small external electronic device (which could be incorporated into future mobile phone), which in turn sends a message to a phone or a computer, informing both the patient and the doctors and family members if necessary. According to the American Heart Association, the main problem in treating illness today is that no medical requirements are met . Recent studies show that chronically ill patients only take half of the pills prescribed . And that 10% of hospital admissions due to this lack of consistency. Even 218,000 deaths annually are attributed to this problem. "Using technology to remedy may be a good idea," says Bashirullah."
Morgan Hoffman

The Future of Humanity: Humanity's Identity Crises - 0 views

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    "We are on a search for who we are. What does it mean to be a human? Can there be more than one kind of human? In fact, what exactly is a human?" In this article on Huffington Post, Kevin Kelly addresses the fact that we, as humans, do not really know who we are as well as questions the authenticity of what is around us. Growing technology and the internet make people question their identities even more, as they may enable us to change our physical features, as well as make people question what is real. Upon further research, I have found that Kevin Kelly was a co-founder of the Wired magazine and has recently gotten a book, What Technology Wants, published. I feel that this online article is a very reliable source based on the aforementioned information about the author and I to think about the questions that Kelly brought up while I read Physics of the Future. Citations: "Biography." Kevin Kelly. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
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